Alumni Spotlight
DEI ALUMNI COUNCIL In the spring, Berkshire launched its first DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Alumni Council, which has been a collaborative effort across the entire Berkshire community. The idea emerged from numerous thoughtful and intentional conversations among alumni, students, faculty and staff, and school leaders who advocated for a DEI Alumni Council to help make the School a more inclusive community. Head of School Pieter Mulder said, “We’re grateful for the hard work and support of the Council members as we work toward making Berkshire a more equitable and inclusive environment for every member of our community.” Board of Trustees members Robin Levi P’21 and Kenneth Coard ’85, P’22,’23, led the DEI Selection Committee process for the School. “We were looking for alumni with a deep commitment to DEI work who also have skills and experience relevant to Berkshire, the desire to dedicate time and energy to this initiative, and a love for the School,” Levi shared. “We hope the Council members will contribute new and valuable ideas for building and supporting the community at Berkshire and encourage other alumni from all backgrounds to get involved.” The Council is organized to advance the Berkshire’s 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan by working across six areas of school life: academics, admissions, athletics and afternoon programs, alumni engagement/ advancement, student life, and faculty and staff support. It is composed of 26 members, representing both BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and white alumni. Along with the Council members, a Berkshire faculty or staff member
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will work with each of the above school-life subcommittees. As the Council moves forward, it will engage with current students, faculty, and staff, and lean on alumni for their perspectives and recommendations on how to be most effective. Brittany Brown ’13 and Rob Jacobs ’04 will serve as the Council’s co-chairs. “Both Britt and Rob have the skills to bridge divides, bring people together, and focus on the project at hand,” said Coard. Jacobs and Brown have each expressed their excitement about leading the Council. “James Baldwin said it best: ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,’” Jacobs said. “Berkshire is uniquely positioned to have a meaningful impact on DEI, both in school and around the world. I look forward to making it a success.” And Brown said she was “humbled and honored” to be chosen as one of the first co-chairs. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents in making Berkshire a more diverse and inclusive educational institution as we continue to mold the leaders of generations to come,” she said. berkshireschool.org/ diversity&inclusion
Ms. Brittany E. Brown ‘13 Co-chair
Mr. Robert J. Jacobs ‘04 Co-chair Mr. Losseni O. Barry ‘18 Dr. Rhonda M. Bentley-Lewis ‘86 Mr. Alexander F. Buteux ‘08 Mr. David H. Chiang ‘05 Ms. Samone J. DeFreese ‘16 Ms. Dalisa Espinosa ‘10 Ms. Cathleen F. FitzGerald ‘85 Mr. Abdul A. Fox ‘89 Mr. John N. Harris, Jr. ‘82 Ms. Marianne Ho Barnum ‘78 Mr. Shawn D. Ingram ‘85 Mr. Klayton H. Johnson ‘10 Mrs. D’vonna S. Johnson-Hines ‘85 Ms. Martha Hagerty Kirkpatrick ‘11 Ms. Angela Lange Meredith-Jones ‘87 Ms. Farah N. Osman Nurse ‘86 Mr. Philip A. Sandick ‘01 Ms. Denise F. Saunders ‘83 Mr. Titus Stewart, Jr. ‘89 Ms. Selina A. Sun ‘10 Mr. Jiles T. Turning Heart ‘04 Ms. Unyimeabasi N. Udoh ‘13 Mr. John E. Washington, Jr. ‘72 Mr. Javier Cruz Winnik ‘96
